No-can no-fill mechanism for filling machines



Aug. 21, 1956 J. T. STIGLER 2,759,649

NO-CAN NO-FILL MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Filed July 29, 195:5 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. F1611. JOSEPH r. ST/GLER A TTORNEY Aug. 21, 1956 J. T. STIGLER 2,759,649

NO-CAN NO-F'ILL MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Filed July 29, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR. 57 FIG. 2. JOSEPH r 5716/. El?

A TTORNE Y J. T. STIGLER Aug. 21, 1956 NO-CAN NO-FILL MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Filed July 29, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOSEPH r ST/GLER 4 TTORNEY United States Patent NO-CAN NO-FILL MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Joseph T. Stigler, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The llafaudyler Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of My invention relates to a machine for filling cans, glass jars or other containers with various products and more particularly to a mechanism for use in connection with such machines for maintaining the filling mechanism inoperative to fill the containers when no container is in a position to be filled.

The machine of my invention is suitable for filling containers with free flowing liquids such as tomato juice, brine, wines, soups, fruit juices, oil and the like or semifiowable materials such as applesauce, thick soups and baby foods which are usually finely divided or pulpous vegetable products with just sufiicient liquid to render them sluggishly flowable.

Reference is made to the application of Everett S. Minard, Serial No. 147,218, filed March 2, 1950, now Patent No. 2,666,564, issued January 19, 1954, entitled Filling Machine. Reference is also particularly made to my application Serial No. 332,259, filed January 21, 1953, now Patent No. 2,725,169, issued November 29, 1955, entitled Filling Machine which shows and more particularly describes the particular machine shown in this application although the no-can no-fill mechanism of this invention may be applied to either of said machines or almost any filling machine of the general type with which this invention is concerned.

An object of my invention is to provide a simplified nocan no-fill mechanism for filling machines particularly of the type shown in the above mentioned co-pending appli cations.

Another object of my invention is to provide a filling machine of the valve type wherein the valve is opened and closed with respect to containers presented in the filling position automatically as the turret is rotated, together with a no-can no-fill mechanism of simplified construction whereby the filling valve is retained in a closed position if no can is in a position to be filled.

More specifically my invention contemplates a no-can no-fill mechanism for filling machines wherein a rotatable filling valve is provided which is automatically opened and closed as the turret carrying the valve is rotated, the no-can no-fill mechanism including a trigger assembly which automatically rotates the valve to an open position as long as cans are present in the filling position, but is capable of detecting the absence of a container to retract the trigger mechanism, the detection mechanism including an arm lying in the path of movement of the containers, a switch actuated by the arm and a solenoid energized upon actuation of the switch to withdraw the trigger mechanism to maintain the filling valve closed when no can is in a position to be filled.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be particularly set forth in the claims and will be apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the machine in which the novel no-can no-fill mechanism of my invention may be incorporated;

2,759,649 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 ice Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine with parts broken away to show a portion of the no-can no-fill mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the machine unrolled to illustrate particularly the operation of the valves and the means for opening and closing them;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the filling valve opening mechanism with the finger or cam in a position to open the filling valves;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the finger or cam for opening the valves pulled out of the way or, in other words, in the no-can no-fill position;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section loo-king from the right of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a rear view of Fig. 4 or a view taken substantially on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine of my invention is circular in plan with the product being conveyed in any suitable preferably continuous manner (not shown) to a rotatable tank 11 which constitutes the reservoir from which the product is withdrawn for discharge into the cans, glass jars or other containers to be filled.

The general construction of the machine in which the no-can no -fill mechanism of my invention is incorporated will only be generally described since the details thereof are described in my Patent No. 2,725,169, referred to above. Further details of the machine of the general type disclosed in this application are disclosed in Minard, Patent No. 2,666,564, also referred to above. However, it will be understood that the no-can no-fill mechanism of this invention may be incorporated in any filling machine of the general type disclosed in said applications.

Referring now to Fig. l, a drive shaft 12 may be directly connected to a suitable driving motor (not shown) or may be driven from any other suitable source of power. The drive shaft enters a casing 13 which also constitutes the main frame of the machine and which is a relatively heavy casting supported upon legs 14, the height of which is adjustable.

The casing 13 supports mechanism for driving a turret drive shaft located within a casting 16 and also for rotating an inner guide ring 17. The guide ring carries suitable mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 18, for propelling the containers over an annular container table or platform 19. The container propelling mechanism includes an arm 21 carrying a roller 22 which rides on a cam formed on the inner side of a cam ring 23. The cam ring 23 is supported by a spider 24 carried by the upper wall of the casing 13. The container propelling mechanism 18 includes a plurality of, in this case, 6, propelling fingers 26, one of which is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The main casing 13 also carries castings 27 as shown at 28 adapted to receive upright posts 29 which carry an annular support ring 31.

The drive shaft located within the casting 16 drives a turret assembly comprising the reservoir 11 and an annular platform (not shown) upon which a plurality of cylinders 32 are carried. Reciprocally mounted in the cylinders 32 are plungers 33 (Fig. 2) which include guide blocks 34 which ride in guides 36 formed in the walls of the cylinders 32. The guide blocks 34 carry rollers 37 which ride in between earns 38 and 39. The cams are adjustable to vary the volume of fill as described in the above mentioned applications.

Mounted below each of the cylinders 32 is a valve body 41 in which a conical valve 42 is seated. The valve 42 has an arm 43 rigid therewith upon the end of which a roller 44 is mounted. It will be understood that the valve has filling ports 46 which are movable into either of two positions. One position provides a filling opening betweenthe cylinder and the containers to be filled and the other position closes otlcommunication from the cylinder.

All of the above mechanism is completely describe-d in the above mentioned co-pending applications. With respect to the valve construction, it is sufficient to state that special connecting ports are provided but that for the purposes of this application all that is required is that the valve be open in one position and closed in the other position.

The containers 51 are propelled into the machine by a container turret 52 which is rotated by a shaft extending upwardly through a pedestal 53 (Fig. 1) supported from the main support casing 13. The turret shaft may be driven from the shaft 12 by any suitable gearing mounted in the casing 13.

The containers are guided into the machine by a guide ring 54 into a position such that they are engaged or picked up by the fingers 26 as they rotate. The rotating fingers then propel the containers over the platform 19. As the containers are propelled, they are guided through the machine by a guide ring 56. The containers are discharged from the machine onto a conveyor 57 from where the containers containing the product are conveyed to a closing machine.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a rolled out view of the machine to illustrate the action of the valve opening and closing mechanism. As shown in Fig. 3, the containers are being moved across the platform 19 in a direction from left to right as viewed in that figure. Mounted in the path of movement of the rollers 44 is a valve opening cam or trigger finger 61. The valve opening cam 61 normally lies in the position shown in Fig. 3 and as long as containers are continuously supplied to the machine, does not move out of the position shown in that view. Thus it is always in a position to engage the rollers 44 to rotate the valves 4-2 in a counterclockwise direction to enable the discharge of the material being filled from the cylinders into the containers by the plungers.

As the containers continue their rotation they are filled and when filled engage a stationary valve closing cam 62 which rotates the valve in a clockwise direction to cut oil communication from. the cylinders through the valve into the containers.

Referring now to Fig. 2, carried by any suitable fixed part of the machine is a pivot 63 upon which an arm 64 is pivotally mounted. A spring 66, one end 67 of which is mounted on a fixed part of the machine and the other end 68 of which is attached to the arm 64, normally moves the arm in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. The arm 64 has a container embracing part 69 so that the arm is held out. in the dotted line position so long as it is in engagement with a container. The container embracing part 69 is of a diameter greater than the distance between two containers so that as long as each filling station of the machine is supplied with a container by the turret 52, the arm 64 will lie in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. However, when the turret 52 fails to supply a container to a filling position below one of the valves 42, a condition indicated by the dotted container, the spring 66 will swing the arm 64 in the clockwise direction and actuate av micro or snap action switch 71. Switches of this character are well known and need not be described in detail. The solid line position shows substantially the inner position of the arm. The switch may act as a stop or a separate stop may be employed.

In Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, I have shown the trigger finger or valve opening cam 61 and its associated, parts. Carried by the support ring 31 is a bracket 72 (Fig. 6) which pivotally supports. the valve opening cam 61, the pivot being indicated by the numeral 73 (Fig. 4);. Integral with the bracket 72 is a pedestal 74'which carriesa bored support 76 for. a, shaft 77. Rigidly secured to the. shaft 77 is a latch 78 (Fig. 4) which has a latching part '79 normally adapted to rest in latching relation with a latch part 81 formed on the valve opening cam 61. A link 82 is pivoted to the valve opening cam at 83 and to the latch 78 at 84.

In Fig. 4, I have shown the valve opening cam and associated parts in the locked position in which position the valve opening cam 61 will engage the rollers which actuate the valves. In Fig. 5, I have shown the same parts with the valve opening cam 61 withdrawn from its normal position in which position it is not engaged by the rollers that actuate the valves. The shaft 77 (Fig. 6) extends into a casing 36 and has a crank 87 rigidly secured thereto. Pivoted to the end of the crank as shown at 88 (Fig. 7) is a link 89' which is pivoted as shown at 91 to the core 92 of a solenoid generally indicated by the numeral 93.

A spring 9-4, one end of which is fixed at 96 to a part of the casing 8-6, is connected by its other end to the crank 8'7. The action of the spring is such as to rotate the crank in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7. This rotation rotates the latch 78 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. counterclockwise movement of the latch 73 pushes the? valve opening cam 61 downward to the position shown in Fig. 4 through the link 82 until the parts are latched as viewed in that figure.

It will now be apparent that when no can is fed by the turret 52, the arm 64 which is normally held outward by engagement with one of two adjacent containers, is pulled in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 by the spring 66. This closes the switch 7'1 and allows current by electrical connections (not shown) to flow to the solenoid 93 which pulls the core 92 upward and rotates the crank S"; in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Pig. 7. This action rotates the latch 78 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 releasing the latch parts '79 and fill which results in the link 82 pulling the valve opening cam 61 to the ineffective position shown in Fig. 5.

When a container is again supplied to the machine as the next finger 26 receives a can from the turret 52, the arm 64 swings outward due to engagement with the can, the switch 71 is opened, and the solenoid deenergized allowing the spring 94 to restore the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4.

It will be appreciated that I have provided an extremely simple no-can no-fill mechanism which is posi tive in its operation and is generally applicable to filling machines.

Further, while I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A no-can no-fill mechanism for container filling machines which include a plurality of filling valves movable into either of two positions, a closed position and an open position, said filling machine including means for moving said valves through a path of travel, a valve closing cam and a valve opening cam mounted in said path of travel, means for normally maintaining said valve opening cam in the path of travel of the valves as long as a container is supplied to the machine beneath each valve, means for moving said valve opening cam out of the path of travel of the valves when no container is supplied to the machine beneath one of the valves comprising a pivoted arm having a container engaging part of a length greater than the distance between two containers, a spring for pivoting said arm when no container is present, a solenoid, means actuated by said arm for energizing said solenoid, and means including an arm and a link pivoted to said arm and pivoted to said valve opening cam actuated by said solenoid for withdrawing said valve opening cam from the path of movement of said valves.

2. A no-can no-fill mechanism for container filling machines which include a plurality of filling valves movable into either of two positions, a closed position and an open position, said filling machine including means for moving said valves through a path of travel, a valve closing cam and a pivoted valve opening cam mounted in said path of travel, means for normally maintaining said valve opening cam in the path of travel of the valves as long as a container is supplied to the machine beneath each valve, means for moving said valve opening cam out of the path of travel of the valves when no container is supplied to the machine beneath one of the valves comprising a pivoted arm having a container engaging part of a length greater than the distance between two containers, a spring for pivoting said arm when no container is present, a solenoid, means actuated by said arm for energizing said solenoid, and means including a linkage between the solenoid and the valve opening cam and pivoted to the cam actuated by said solenoid for withdrawing said valve opening cam from the path of movement of said valves.

3, A no-can no-fill mechanism for container filling machines which include a plurality of filling valves movable into either of two positions, a closed position and an open position, said filling machine including means for moving said valves through a path of travel, a valve closing cam and a pivoted valve opening cam mounted in said path of travel, means for normally maintaining said valve opening cam in the path of travel of the valves as long as a container is supplied to the machine beneath each valve, means for moving said valve opening cam out of the path of travel of the valves when no container is supplied to the machine beneath one of the valves comprising a pivoted arm having a container engaging part of a length greater than the distance between two containers, a spring for pivoting said arm when no container is present, a solenoid, means actuated by said arm for energizing said solenoid, and means actuated by said solenoid for withdrawing said valve opening cam from the path of movement of said valves,

said last mentioned means including a crank actuated by the solenoid, a shaft oscillated by the crank, an arm rigidly secured to the shaft and a link pivoted to the arm and to said cam.

4. A no-can no-fill mechanism for container filling machines which include a plurality of filling valves movable into either of two positions, a closed position and an open position, said filling machine including means for moving said valves through a path of travel, a valve closing cam and a pivoted valve opening cam mounted in said path of travel, means for normally maintaining said valve opening cam in the path of travel of the valves as long as a container is supplied to the machine beneath each valve, means for moving said valve opening cam out of the path of travel of the valves when no container is supplied to the machine beneath one of the valves comprising a pivoted arm having a container engaging part of a length greater than the distance between two containers, a spring for pivoting said arm when no container is present, a pivoted latching element movable into and out of latching relation with said valve opening cam, means actuated when said pivoted arm is pivoted due to the absence of a container for rotating said latching element to withdraw it from latching relation with said valve opening cam, a connection between said latching element and said valve opening cam for rotating said valve opening cam when the latching element is rotated to withdraw the valve opening cam from valve opening position and means for restoring said latching element into latching relation with said valve opening cam.

5. Mechanism in accordance with claim 4 in which said last mentioned means is a spring and said connection is a link pivoted to said latching element and pivoted to said valve opening cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,487,414 Weatherhead Mar. 18, 1924 2,360,565 Kerr Oct. 17, 1944 2,444,155 De Back June 29, 1948 2,603,398 Fischer et al July 15, 1952 

